Google Adds “Anonymous Caller ID” to Google Voice

• Google Voice users in the US will soon be able to hide their identity when calling other users using the service.
• The anonymous caller ID feature was rolled out to iOS users earlier this week with Android and web users yet to receive it.
• Google also redesigned the service with its Material design and added calls to emergency services in recent updates.

Google Voice received a major update that bolsters the VoIP capabilities of the service. Users can now hide their identities when initiating calls using the service. The 2019.07 updates was pushed out earlier this week, and it brings the new “Anonymous Caller ID” feature for all users according to 9to5google reports. The feature is available only on the iOS version of the app currently with updates to the web and Android versions still pending.

Despite the feature being added only recently, users have been able to mask their caller IDs on the service since the start by simply adding a “*67” at the front of numbers. However, the feature offered anonymity for one call only and users would have to repeat the process every time to hide their numbers. The new update only makes things more convenient for all users. Anyone who receives calls from masked numbers will see “Anonymous” or “Restricted” instead of phone numbers. Anonymous phone numbers cannot be called back either if the feature is enabled.

Image Courtesy of Google

The new “Anonymous Caller ID” hides your number permanently until you toggle it back off manually. There is no official word on when the feature will be made available to platforms other than iOS. Google has been actively updating its apps with its Material design, and Google Voice received the same treatment as well.

Google is set to offer Voice to its G Suite users as well with new features like calls to emergency services. G Suite is set to expand to nine more countries this year, but Voice will continue to be an US-only service. There are no official plans to bring Google Voice outside the country anytime soon despite a number of users requesting it over the years.

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